One of my go to meals is grilled cheese, It’s simple and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients! 😀
Jessica Fisher
Love grilled cheese!
Susan L. @ Full Happy Muffin and Mama
We tend to keep tortillas on hand (or the ingredients to make tortillas) for tacos, burritos, or wraps. We also tend to keep sandwich fixins. Or any variety of breakfast for dinner (omelets, pancakes, waffles–we usually have either pancakes or waffles or both in the freezer). Fried rice is another staple. Or use up the veg that are almost no go anymore soup. Nachos of various kinds. (I have been guilty of this more than once–hot dogs) With any of these, as you mentioned, turning it into a “bar” or a customized experience has always worked for me–participatory dining!
brittany
Brown chicken rice and lettuce add Italian dressing and chicken grilled or whatever u like easy meal and very yummy trust me!
Jessica Fisher
Sounds yummy!
Danielle
Shrimp scampi is one of my back-up/last minute meals. I usually try and keep a bag of frozen Costco shrimp in the freezer, it defrosts super fast in cold water. I almost always have spaghetti or linguine in the pantry as well as garlic, butter and oil. Its one of those meals I can pull together in less than 30 minutes from the time I pull the shrimp out of the freezer. Another last minute favorite around here is tortas. I always have corn tortillas in the freezer and cheddar cheese in the fridge. I’ll make them with whatever frozen protein I happen to have around, ground beef, leftover frozen shredded chicken, etc.
Jessica Fisher
Shrimp scampi sounds yummy! I’m curious what your tortas are. I’ve only had sandwiches called tortas.
Tiffany
Soup!! An easy soup can be made with leftover or canned poultry (chicken or turkey), rice or noodles, water, bouillon and frozen vegetables. Just add a side of bread and butter or crackers!
Another easy one is Potato Soup. Any kind of pork can be used for the base (bacon, sausage, ham), and in a pinch I have even just used bacon grease. Cook it in a pot, then add garlic (powder, if that is all you have), onion (again, powder is good enough), salt, pepper and any other spices that sound good (Emril’s, Mrs. Dash, etc.). Then add peeled, diced potatoes and water or milk, and cook down until the potatoes are cooked and the soup is thickened (about 30 min). Soup is very forgiving, and easy to taste as you go the add flavors as needed!!
Buttered noodles is also a staple at my house with 4 kids under age 8. I just cook any kind of noodle, add butter and garlic (powder, usually) and they are happy campers. Veggies and meat can also be added right to the mix for a complete meal (we like already cooked shrimp and peas). Parmesan cheese is also good with this 🙂
Mary Ann
Salmon patties or frozen fish. Both can be ready in a short time and I usually have canned salmon or bags of fish on hand.
I also love freezing the chicken gravy from your cookbook. I add some diced chicken which I always have on hand and serve the gravy over rice or toast. Makes a yummy quick and frugal meal!
Jessica
Gravy is wonderful. Love.
Claire
Pancakes! My 7 love them!
Alllisa
Tuna/cream cheese on crackers
Janet
I always have 1 lb bags of browned ground beef in the freezer. A minute or two to defrost in the microwave and there is a variety of meals to make quickly with a few pantry staples including spaghetti and meat sauce; pizza (almost any topping will work as long as I have a handful of cheese to toss on top); and tacos or burritos.
I usually have 1 lb bags of cooked cubed and/or shredded chicken. Again a few minutes to defrost in the microwave and there are numerous options. Our favorites include chicken noodle soup; chicken enchiladas; and mini chicken pot pies. When all else fails grilled cheese sandwiches and fresh fruit works.
Haley @ Cheap Recipe Blog
This list is awesome! I make tortilla pizzas too – they’re lifesavers!
tammy r
One of our meals is chips and chili.I just add a can of tomatoes to the chili top with cheese.easy. Another is 2 boxes mac & cheese made add a can tuna,can of mixed veg & mix.Add a pinch of cheese on top each plate.easy. Grilled cheese is another and burritos .
Tamara
Fish is my go to meal. I buy a large pkg of tilapia or salmon from sams.They are individually shrink wrapped which maked them easy to grab and thaw. I lightly oil and sprinkle with lemon pepper with herbs if I don’t have real lemons. Steam a frozen veg and bake a potato and dinner is served. I am blessed that both my kids love fish. Ingred to have on hand: frozen fish, lemon pepper, frozen veggies, potatoes. Dinner ready in 20 to 30 min
Jessica
Yep, that does thaw quickly. Since I had shrink wrapped poached chicken in the freezer, I was able to thaw that really quickly, too.
Jakey
One of my go to meals is grilled cheese, It’s simple and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients! 😀
Jessica Fisher
Love grilled cheese!
Susan L. @ Full Happy Muffin and Mama
We tend to keep tortillas on hand (or the ingredients to make tortillas) for tacos, burritos, or wraps. We also tend to keep sandwich fixins. Or any variety of breakfast for dinner (omelets, pancakes, waffles–we usually have either pancakes or waffles or both in the freezer). Fried rice is another staple. Or use up the veg that are almost no go anymore soup. Nachos of various kinds. (I have been guilty of this more than once–hot dogs) With any of these, as you mentioned, turning it into a “bar” or a customized experience has always worked for me–participatory dining!
brittany
Brown chicken rice and lettuce add Italian dressing and chicken grilled or whatever u like easy meal and very yummy trust me!
Jessica Fisher
Sounds yummy!
Danielle
Shrimp scampi is one of my back-up/last minute meals. I usually try and keep a bag of frozen Costco shrimp in the freezer, it defrosts super fast in cold water. I almost always have spaghetti or linguine in the pantry as well as garlic, butter and oil. Its one of those meals I can pull together in less than 30 minutes from the time I pull the shrimp out of the freezer. Another last minute favorite around here is tortas. I always have corn tortillas in the freezer and cheddar cheese in the fridge. I’ll make them with whatever frozen protein I happen to have around, ground beef, leftover frozen shredded chicken, etc.
Jessica Fisher
Shrimp scampi sounds yummy! I’m curious what your tortas are. I’ve only had sandwiches called tortas.
Tiffany
Soup!! An easy soup can be made with leftover or canned poultry (chicken or turkey), rice or noodles, water, bouillon and frozen vegetables. Just add a side of bread and butter or crackers!
Another easy one is Potato Soup. Any kind of pork can be used for the base (bacon, sausage, ham), and in a pinch I have even just used bacon grease. Cook it in a pot, then add garlic (powder, if that is all you have), onion (again, powder is good enough), salt, pepper and any other spices that sound good (Emril’s, Mrs. Dash, etc.). Then add peeled, diced potatoes and water or milk, and cook down until the potatoes are cooked and the soup is thickened (about 30 min). Soup is very forgiving, and easy to taste as you go the add flavors as needed!!
Buttered noodles is also a staple at my house with 4 kids under age 8. I just cook any kind of noodle, add butter and garlic (powder, usually) and they are happy campers. Veggies and meat can also be added right to the mix for a complete meal (we like already cooked shrimp and peas). Parmesan cheese is also good with this 🙂
Mary Ann
Salmon patties or frozen fish. Both can be ready in a short time and I usually have canned salmon or bags of fish on hand.
I also love freezing the chicken gravy from your cookbook. I add some diced chicken which I always have on hand and serve the gravy over rice or toast. Makes a yummy quick and frugal meal!
Jessica
Gravy is wonderful. Love.
Claire
Pancakes! My 7 love them!
Alllisa
Tuna/cream cheese on crackers
Janet
I always have 1 lb bags of browned ground beef in the freezer. A minute or two to defrost in the microwave and there is a variety of meals to make quickly with a few pantry staples including spaghetti and meat sauce; pizza (almost any topping will work as long as I have a handful of cheese to toss on top); and tacos or burritos.
I usually have 1 lb bags of cooked cubed and/or shredded chicken. Again a few minutes to defrost in the microwave and there are numerous options. Our favorites include chicken noodle soup; chicken enchiladas; and mini chicken pot pies. When all else fails grilled cheese sandwiches and fresh fruit works.
Haley @ Cheap Recipe Blog
This list is awesome! I make tortilla pizzas too – they’re lifesavers!
tammy r
One of our meals is chips and chili.I just add a can of tomatoes to the chili top with cheese.easy. Another is 2 boxes mac & cheese made add a can tuna,can of mixed veg & mix.Add a pinch of cheese on top each plate.easy. Grilled cheese is another and burritos .
Tamara
Fish is my go to meal. I buy a large pkg of tilapia or salmon from sams.They are individually shrink wrapped which maked them easy to grab and thaw. I lightly oil and sprinkle with lemon pepper with herbs if I don’t have real lemons. Steam a frozen veg and bake a potato and dinner is served. I am blessed that both my kids love fish. Ingred to have on hand: frozen fish, lemon pepper, frozen veggies, potatoes. Dinner ready in 20 to 30 min
Jessica
Yep, that does thaw quickly. Since I had shrink wrapped poached chicken in the freezer, I was able to thaw that really quickly, too.